Sunday, July 2, 2017

The Results of Cooking

I rarely like food in restaurants
Because of this
yesterday my kitchen was a mess.

I picked up ribs from the local market.
When I was out of my car the scent of grilling was so enticing

Bought 2 slabs, one to freeze and one to eat on several days.
Was hoping to see my Beth this weekend
but daily rain and no one wants to drive to the country, on the interstate in the rain.

Rain yesterday, today and some due daily for a week.

Arriving home I began, by memory, making Texas Baked beans. Used 1/3 of the ground meat
as this was a portion of the original recipe. Meat browning and started adding chopped tomato, chopped onion, celery,
green pepper, red wine vinegar, brown sugar, mustard and medium can of baked beans.
Simmered in old cast iron skillet for over an hour.
The smell while it is simmering is wonderful.

Then since I like my Cole slaw the best but can no longer hold a 1/2 head of cabbage and use the old fashion grater (like my mother did until 80) I used my small 4 cup work bowl from Cuisinart.
1/4 head of green cabbage, small portion of red cabbage, some onion, carrot and green pepper, a few red radishes
salt and pepper.
When chopped. like my mother did added - a little sugar and tossed with a little mayo.

Kitchen a mess - but worth it

My sweet tea made and corn bread would have made it perfect - but too tired to make.

Now fresh Peaches and Apples on my counter and want to make a small apple cake a friend shared with me
and a simple Peach pie that she made. Fresh peaches sliced in precooked pie shell (she made her crust) and cover
with peach jello that had been prepared with 1cup of sugar and 1 cup of boiling water.
It was so good.
You can add whip cream or ice cream..

Hoping
Beth can visit her mom on 4th of July
if no rain....

Jamie sent a picture of flower arrangement she made - posted on instagram - could not copy
but my Jamie, you could do this as a business :) Hoping her poison ivy is better :(

Laurie called
home to Tampa from N.Y. 3:00 in the morning, oh my - rest my child....

I, too, would succumb to the enticing aromas of ribs being grilled outside one of my grocery stores preliminary to certain holidays for a couple years. Then, they stopped last year and sell them frozen in the store now. I don't buy them. Somehow it's not the same, though I suppose they're good.

Yummm! Sounds like you are doing better. Hope you continue to improve. Happy 4th.

Have you ever added broken pieces of crispy sliced bacon and small slices of Little Smokies to the beans/meat mix to cook in the cast iron skillet? I learned this from a friend 25 years ago. It is delicious. We add bbq sauce, brown sugar, and a few diced slices of fresh jalapenos, too, for those who can stand the heat!

About Me

This Journal is being written for my pleasure, my children and my grandchildren. Sharing some of my past, present and thoughts for future. It is the Journal of a sensitive soul who has entered her 8th decade. My life journey has taken me down a lot of roads with many twists and turns. It's not the journey that I would have visualized at the age of 25 when a third child was on the horizon. I love the warmth of the sun, sound of rain, a crackling fire, simplicity and elegance. Find pleasure in sitting on my porch with tea in a china cup and digging in the earth. I am more myself at this time of life than ever before. A considerable part of my past was in the business world, multi tasking and being super organized. Today I am trying to simplify and be more mindful. Also learning about this journey through aging and Sjogren's Syndrome.
It is not as easy as I thought, even though I have a lot of solitude at this time of life. My days fly by and I do not think I have enough time left on earth to do and experience all that is the desire of my heart.
One thing I am sure of is that I could not make it on this journey without my daily prayer and meditating time.